Come to a comfortable seat...

Where there's homework, there's a struggle.  There's struggle with getting it done/meeting the deadline, the struggle with not knowing what to do, the struggle with fretting over whether it's right.  (Parents of my 8th grade students know these struggles well!)  When you go back to school as an adult, you somehow "forget" what a struggle homework can be when you're the one who's doing it!
Last week, my homework was "Centering" - I needed to write a bodyscan from the sitting bones upwards, reciting phrases (that I came up with) that would help my potential class of students center themselves for practice.  I wrote out on index cards a few phrases that I thought would be effective at helping people "center" themselves - basically preparing themselves mentally and physically for what was about to happen for the next hour on the mat.  When the time came on Wednesday's session to pair up with a classmate and guide them into a centered state, I realized I was woefully under-prepared.  I wrote out something that I thought was great - anyone hearing my words would be sure to feel centered as their yoga practice started, right? - but when I heard the thoughtful, sensitive words of my partner, I realized that I didn't give my "centering" the attention it deserved.  She sounded like a pro - someone who had been teaching for years, using imagery, key phrases, and gentle guiding words to help people settle in on their mats.  When I complimented her, she fully admitted that she "pinched it" (she's English).  I recited my poor attempt, and she was polite, but I knew I left a lot to be desired.  I pledged to give a lot more thought and devotion to this week's homework.
This week, my homework is to create a 3-minute practice (3 minutes, that's IT!) that will center my class, warm them up, and bring them to standing (tadasana).  It is such a hard assignment.  I've already devoted 45 minutes to writing out this sequence and trying it out myself - and I feel like it's not right.  My biggest problem is limiting myself to 3 minutes.  In most of the classes I've taken in the last year, the centering alone takes more than 3 minutes.  How the heck am I supposed to get a beginning yogi relaxed and into a standing posture in 3 minutes?  I tried it out on my husband (NOT a yogi) last night, and it did not go well (to say the least!).
We are supposed to write our practices assuming that everyone in our class is a beginner.  It would be an understatement to say that my husband is a beginner.  On top of that, he has some sort of ankle injury (this foot problem happens on a regular basis, and probably should require medical attention, but that's another blog entry for another day).  I should rally and say "Well, yoga is going to sort these problems out for you - trust me!"  I should be ready and knowledgeable about how to modify the posture so that it helps strengthen these troublesome muscles and joints.  Instead, it devolved because I had written a sequence for someone who was familiar with what I was talking about.  And because it was me, my husband had no problem saying "Ow!  That hurts.  I have no idea what you mean.   I can't do what you're doing!"(I was just sitting on my knees, in a "comfortable seat", btw).   I truly don't think he would have been as vocal in a yoga class with another teacher - he would have "played along".  Either way, it was late, it was me, and he had no problem speaking right up!
That said, ANYone taking a yoga class shouldn't "play along".  If something is uncomfortable, a yogi should feel comfortable enough to speak up and ask for a modification.  And the teacher needs to be knowledgeable and flexible enough to offer up the mods.  Sadly, that's not how it went down last night.  I got frustrated, he got frustrated, and the 3 minutes opened my eyes to exactly how much MORE I have to do.  I don't have to scrap everything - but I do have to be more descriptive and much more considerate.
I guess it's back to the drawing board for me - hopefully, this time it won't take 45 minutes to write out 3 minutes of a sequence.  I'm not ready to throw the towel in.  Yet.

By practicing yoga, impurities dwindle away and the light of wisdom dawns - Patanjali's yoga sutras

Flying on the Mat

What a week!  Even still, I found time to fly on my mat, thanks to a great Wednesday session by Josh.
Summer is ending, dear readers.  Soon, it's time to acclimate myself (and my children) to a regular daily schedule, which will be unlike any other September that has come before.  This is mainly because I'll be heading back to school for my Yoga Teacher Training.  I've never been a "student" while being a mother, let along a working professional (unlike a lot of my colleagues, I completed my Masters Degree before I started my teaching career).  Thankfully, I'm comfortable in my skin as both a mother and a teacher, so I feel like I'm up for the challenge - fully admitting that it is going to be nothing short of a challenge.
I digress.  I have roughly one week left to squeeze in as much yoga as I can.  I do feel that "yoga as I know it" is going to change, once I enter the teaching program, so I want to experience flying under someone else's guidance while I have the opportunity, and that's just what Josh presented this past Wednesday - so fitting, as he announced that a sub will be filling in for his class next week.  You all know how I feel about substitute yoga teachers.  This week was enough to last two weeks - as we worked heavily on Balancing postures, which are my strong suit.
It's been a while since I've felt like I've been flying on my mat.  Maybe I've been distracted (trying to recall/practice Sanskrit, thinking about what I should blog, worrying about my bra showing), maybe my focus hasn't quite been on-point, maybe instructors haven't felt much like having us fly.  Whatever the reason, it's been a while, and this past Wednesday, I got a sweet taste of flying.  It renewed everything I love about yoga.
I don't know if it's an "official" posture or asana, but we moved via swandive into a crescent lunge.  For that brief moment before your back foot touches down, you're balancing on one leg, and it makes you feel like you're flying.  I love this feeling, so I extended my leg for as long as I could - Imagining myself as a graceful bird taking flight. I savored the feeling, and whenever the opportunity arose within the practice to do it again, I balanced.  I let my leg go long and slow, my arms go wide and expansive, my breath come in deep, just to prolong the feeling of flying.
Flying doesn't come often on the mat - you have to be in the right zone - but when the moment arises, carpe diem, friends, and enjoy every second!  Maybe when I'm a yoga teacher, I'll try to work in a little flying with every session.  That's how good it feels.


" Be sure to breathe... Hold the posture, not your breath" - Josh

When things get in the way...

Boobs!
Ha!  You thought that I was going to say "Family", "Work", "Everyday Chores", didn't you?  Well, yes, those things can get "in the way" of a regular yoga practice.  A fellow mom was recently lamenting to me that she wanted to start a regular yoga practice, but it was hard with kids always in tow.  She made a commitment to herself that she would just pick a class she liked, hire a sitter, and go for it.  Good for her!  Lots of studio classes are held mid-morning, making it hard for the working person to make it to the mat - and you have to be pretty committed to get your butt out of bed for a 6am yoga practice before work!
Yes, life does get in the way, but so can your body parts!  Body parts like Boobs (if you have them), thighs, bellies, and (dare I say it?) chins.  On Monday, I was on the mat with Betsy leading us (Betsy is the director of the yoga teacher training program I will be starting in September), and she guided us into cow-face pose (Gomukhasana).  It's a nice hip-opener, but if you have larger than average thighs (not passing judgement!  It could be from anything:  genetics, running, excessive ellipticalling, being overweight), it can be a challenge to get your right thigh over your left to stack your knees.  We did our best.  Next, Betsy asked us to open the hips further by leaning forward, and she joked "I've heard that boobs can get in the way, so if you can't go too far forward, it's okay!"  Ha ha ha, the class chuckled along.  When an anonymous yogi in the back of the class posed, "I've heard that about bellies, too..." there was more laughter.  Little did they know that this is a serious matter for some of us.
Well, it's not life-and-death serious, but it can lead a yogi to feel like his/her progress is being hindered in a posture or worse, lead to feelings of insecurity.  It doesn't help being in a yoga class when the 98 pound teenager on the mat in front of you can pretzel her way into every posture with ease.  Part of the solution is sensitivity on the part of the instructor.  Betsy's joke was perfect - letting us know that it's okay if things get in the way, and subtly saying "you're not the only one".  It's the instructor's job to make you feel confident while teaching proper form, and if necessary, offering modifications for the posture that suit YOUR practice.  What this means is there are "loopholes" for certain postures.  There is more than one way to stretch that hip, and if something gets in the way, we'll just wiggle around until something's not in the way!  There are plenty of yoga classes for pregnant women, and while the class is designed for gentle stretches for those more limber than usual ligaments, a big part of the practice is getting around that belly.  Some of these same postures could work for someone who otherwise has a larger than normal midsection.
Boobs are a little harder, mainly when it comes to inversions.  Take it from me, going into supported bridge and shoulderstand are no fun when the girls are in the way, making it difficult to take those all-important breaths in.  I always feel a bit ridiculous when I'm in shoulderstand, knowing that I really could make my spine straighter if I could only breathe easier!  Luckily, props can help out here, as I recently found out in an Iyengar class!  Using something as simple as a folded blanket under the shoulders can open up an inch or two at the front of your neck, and that's really all that was needed!  Props are not solely for beginners - I was beginning to see that they really can help to get you deeper into a posture that you have been struggling with.
Life gets in the way, body parts get in the way, during home practice, my KIDS get in the way.  Part of yoga is having patience to deal with all of these things, but having a sense of humor about it helps, too.  Know that you're not the only one struggling with life, body, or kids, and a prop or two (and a babysitter!) can help get you where you're going.

Build positivity in your practice:  All events will flow towards a beautiful resolution.

What's with all the books?

Well, of course, something is up with my photo uploader, and after trying to fix it for 15 minutes, I'm losing patience, and I'll just have to make this work (sideways).

That's a lot of thick books on yoga.  With the exception of Bhagavad Gita (which is basically a long, non-rhyming poem), they average 300 pages a piece.  And there are more on the way.

What's with all the books?  Well, I have been practicing yoga for a long time, and my practice has progressed from DVDs at home to multi-level classes at the gym to studio classes to blogging about yoga to buying a few books about yoga to more classes...and the big message that I've been getting is that your yoga practice is never complete.  There is always somewhere else to go, another edge to push, an new level to reach.  I have long thought that the logical next step for me would be to become a yoga teacher.  But upon researching the lengthy coursework and reading lists, not to mention the requisite 200 HOURS of yoga classes, I always felt that it would be impossible for me to complete.  I work full-time, I have a husband who travels (a LOT), and 2 kids to raise (hello, afterschool activities!)  I thought it would be something to do "one day" when all of these things were a little less of a daily juggle.
But life is not slowing down, and I am not getting any younger (!), and suddenly I realized that there was a teacher training center just a couple of towns over.  I wouldn't need to trek into Manhattan to get this done.  My possibilities started opening up and I became inspired - so I decided to apply to the Yoga Teacher Training program.
The BIG REVEAL is that I was (finally!) accepted into the cohort for 2012-2013!  I am going back to school and I am going to become a fully-certified yoga teacher!  I am not doing this as a career move or change - I want to be very clear that I am doing this to deepen my own practice and gain an deeper, fuller understanding of yoga.  If I end up teaching a class here and there, great, but at the end of the day, I want to learn more about the discipline and practice and I think this is the way to do it.
My "Summer Reading List" is extensive - instead of sitting by the pool with 50 Shades on my Nook, I'll have Yoga textbooks and a pencil.  I have 3 more books coming (via the Pony Express, it seems, since I ordered them "Used" on Amazon), so I have plenty to keep me occupied before my coursework even begins.

Part of my
"summer reading list"...

In case you are curious, it is a 9-month program (some courses manage to cram this all into 3 months or stretch it out over 12 months - either way, the number of required hours is the same, as specified by the Yoga Alliance).  I will have class for 3 hours every single Wednesday night (September through May) with one 3-hour Friday class a month and one six-hour Sunday class a month.  Not terrible.  Manageable for a working mom (who is home from her paying job by 4:00).  What is going to take some schedule juggling is the additional requirement of taking 52 studio yoga classes during the course of the teacher training.  I will need to observe and reflectively journal on each of the 52 classes. I talked it over with Husband, I weighed it over in my mind, and I decided I was ready to give up one year of my life to further my passion!

After applying, I had to go in for an interview with the program director, who is super committed to maintaining the quality and integrity of her training program.  She's a true pioneer for small yoga studios who are surviving against the "big guns" of YogaWorks and Jivamukti in the city.  I also had to take 2 classes with 2 different instructors at the studio, just so they could see that I have good body awareness and knew enough about yoga to make sense of the coursework.  Basically, they needed to make sure I wasn't walking in off the street with 7 classes under my belt before I started training.  I have 7 YEARS under my belt - I know a sanskrit phrase or two.  I'm a biology teacher in real-life, so I think I have the body parts down pretty well, too.  It didn't matter - I made up my mind that this was the next step for me in my yoga journey, so I was happily willing to do anything they asked me to do as part of my application process.  I was eschewing all judgement and just giving it a go!

Eventually, I got my acceptance letter from the studio, just before we left for vacation, which made for a very happy start to our trip.  Now that I'm back, my mind has been going a million miles a minute, planning in advance for the schedule changes and juggles we'll be faced with this fall.  I've been ordering my books, and trying to crack them open to get a head start for September.  Overall, I'm so excited to be going "back to school", and I'm eager to share my experience with you on the blog!  I'm honored that you're willing to keep reading about the journey!

Just do it - "Energy and Persistence alter all things" - B. Franklin

Hit the Reset Button

I promised a "Big Reveal" at the end of my last post, and even though it's been a few days since then, I haven't quite composed my post about it yet.  I will. For now, I didn't want to leave my blog another week without a new post, so here's my account of the first trip back to my mat after nearly 3 weeks off.

It's Tuesday night, and I unroll my mat with a bit of trepidation.  Partly this is because I know with all of the walking I've done around the cobble-paved streets of Paris, I'm sure to need quite a bit of stretching.  I'm going to need to take baby steps back to the mat.  Alas, I've chosen to make my first practice in over a fortnight (love my Brit-speak?) with Eileen - the second source of my trepidation.

Eileen is not a warm and fuzzy yoga teacher.  She has loyal students, some of whom she seems to like and share a rapport with, but I'm not one of them.  I think she recognizes me by now, and for the most part knows that I'm a pretty serious yogi (opposed to the 16 year old skinny BFFs who sometimes take the class 'cause they heard yoga is Carly Rae Jepson's favorite way to escape from the stress of being a teenager - PS, Eileen has absolutely no patience for them), but she doesn't really engage in conversations with many of her students.  That said, she's absolutely professional and knows her stuff (chakras, sanskrit, modifications, OMs, ALL of it), and I think she's a skilled practitioner.

Every class of Eileen's has a focus that she shares with you (ie, "Today we'll be working on the heart chakra, doing a lot of heart-opening postures, and we're starting with this particular breath to stimulate...." etc), and the postures definitely stretch whatever it is that she says will be stretched.  I can't recall ever "sweating" in one of her classes, but on more than one occasion I have felt it the next day.  Wednesday was one of those "day afters"...and Wednesday morning is Josh's class, which often does make me sweat (usually filled with lots of Vinyasas and lots of chaturanga).  So, I was sore, and sweating, but breathing deep and oh so grateful to be "back"!  I went on to take Josh's Thursday class as well, which usually is a little more easy-going (long warm up and long cool down, with only a few Vinyasas).  I thought to myself: "Hey, if I had reversed the order of these classes, I might have enjoyed my return to the mat even more..."


Would I recommend taking a challenging class on your first day back?  It depends on your approach to yoga.  Do you feel the need to really kick your butt into gear, almost "punishing" yourself for staying away so long (mind you, this is not a particularly "yogic" mindset)?  Then, yes, go for it.  Do you think that your practice will be reinvigorated by a slow, steady approach that builds up to a challenging climax? Then, you'd probably want to start with something more low-key.  I wasn't punishing myself to take Eileen's class first; it was just the first class that I was able to fit into my schedule.  Nonetheless, the difference between the 2 teacher's styles was apparent, and made for a reflective return from my vacay-induced hiatus.  Plus, I need to gear up for Heidy's class this Sunday!


Make every breath count.

Even Yogis need a vacation

Now, before you think this post is all about how I've not blogged in forever and a day (a blogging vacation), it's not.  Faithful readers (Hi Kerry, Hi Lauren!) know that summer is when I really take advantage of my time off as a school teacher to "get away" on my mat.  Once I'm on my mat and flying, it really does feel like a vacation...and the way my gently stretched arm and leg muscles feel after a good practice?  No amount of beach relaxation can compare to that kind of bliss!

The yoga classes that I frequent are on weekday mornings, and that's kinda hard to get to when you have a class full of 8th graders ready to get their "learn" on.  I love it when there's a break or a school holiday so I can make it to these 9am classes.  Summertime is 9 full weeks of morning availability for me (half the reason I send my kids to camp is so I can make it to these classes!).  When I do return to my regular practice each summer, it's fun to see old friends in my yoga class (hey there, Cathie!), and it's great when I make new ones (Penny!).  Alas, Summertime is also when everyone else outside the education industry decides to go on Vacation; Yoga teachers included.

So, what do you do when your yoga teacher goes on vacation?  Well, I guess it goes without saying that you pray that the class gets covered so that you can continue on with your practice!  Secondly, you approach your mat for that session with an open mind.  The Substitute yoga teacher does not know the rhythms of the class they are covering, and he/she will have his/her own style of instructions.  Be respectful of those variations, and know that at minimum you will deepen your practice, maximally you'll have a more well-rounded practice.  Changing it up can be good!  Doing a variation of a posture that you may have become too comfortable in is beneficial.  As my favorite yoga teacher of all time (Diann) used to say: "you never know when you're going to be called into battle, and you never know how long that battle is going to be, so always be ready in your warrior" (I, II, or III...and she would make us hold those poses for a looooooong time....)

It's important to be comfortable with your practice, but sometimes, with only one instructor, you can become too comfortable and your practice doesn't grow.  It becomes "stale", you may forget proper alignment, your muscles may not be ready to experience sometime new if you follow the same routine week after week.  Mixing it up is good...but keeping an open mind is the most important.

I had the experience of having 2 substitute teachers for 2 different regular classes this week.  This summer, I have been periodically taking an evening class, and this week, there was a sub.  This sub clearly had her own regular class at another time, and many of her "regulars" seemed to show up for this evening class.  I was optimistic because this is how I used to feel about Diann.  I would find out when she was practicing, and I'd make a concerted effort to practice with her when I could.  That's just how it is when you click and connect with an instructor.  You "get" them, they "get" the way you do asana, and things flow from there.  Anyway, my hopes were quickly dashed with this nighttime sub when she instructed us into a Warrior I posture, and then scolded those of us who didn't hold our back foot in what she considered to be the proper alignment.  From the get-go, I've always been instructed that the back foot should angle out slightly (about 45 degrees) with the back edge of the foot flat on the floor.  I've been practicing regularly for 4 years and I've always practiced Warrior with this foot placement.  This instructor insisted that we keep our rear foot facing forward.  She refused to continue on to her next posture until all of us in the class aligned ourselves as such.  I'm no fool...I moved my foot the way she told me to immediately, even though it didn't feel right - not in my foot, not in my hip, not at my calf or my knee. Needless to say, others in the class were a little slow on the uptake or thought she was kidding.  She kept insisting there were some of us using incorrect form, and she kept us there.  Uncomfortable, not relaxing, on edge, the tension could be cut with a knife.  HUH?  This isn't what a yoga practice is supposed to be!  One person actually walked out.  Me?  I pledged a sorority way back when, and I don't give up so easily.  I finished the practice, but begrudgingly, the whole while thinking that this just wasn't right.  Homie don't play that.

So, this morning, I walked into another practice with another sub.  Josh told us last week that he would not be in, but he assured us there would be a qualified sub.  There was...clearly a woman with a dance/ballet background; she was quite graceful.  Despite my misgivings after the evening class, I approached the teacher's instruction with an open mind.  She had a soothing voice, she knew her stuff, and I felt like "I can do this!".  But it was still a little weird.  For starters, she used a device on her head for which I have no better description than "Janet Jackson Control" - you guys with me?  She would give us an instruction and tell us what was coming next, but breathlessly make side comments to people in the class: "Don't use that mat.  Thank you.  Put that mat away and get a blue yoga mat, thank you"  She'd put us through a small sequence (ie Warrior I to Warrior III) and say "Thank you" like she was Elvis or something ("Thankyehverhmush").  She also was into this same strange, new alignment for Warrior I with the back foot facing forward instead of angled back.  I was beginning to think I had missed something about alignment in Yoga Journal last month. The end of the class was a little wishy-washy, where she let us do whatever we wanted without descrete guidance into Savasana.  We could do bridge, we could do plow, we could do modified pigeon, we could lay on our backs, we could to whatever made us comfortable.  I suppose this was an attempt to help us own our practice, but it came across as "I don't know how to wrap things up, so you go ahead", and most of us just floundered, lemmings that we are, without the direction.  She opened and closed practice with an "Om", and I swear I was the only one who joined in (and I am NOT an "Om-y" type of practitioner).  Then again, with the mic on, maybe the sounds of everyone else's Om was drowned out.  I left the class feeling stretched and relaxed, but a little confused.

So, readers, moral of the story:  keep an open mind.  ON the mat and OFF the mat.  Honor your instructor's practice.  If you take away at least something positive from a less-than-ideal practice, let it be this:  feel fortunate that your spirit led you to the mat, be grateful that your body had the strength to practice, and be thankful that your mind was willing to guide you.  Namaste.

The light in me sees the light in you and recognizes the source of this light to be the same.  We are all connected - Yogic philosophy

Hypocrisy?

Spring Break is finally here!  The last 3 weeks have felt like 3 months, and I am in desperate need to catch up on sleep, take advantage of a little extra time to catch up on projects, and of course, get back on that mat!  Husband asked the other day what I planned to do over the break (he's not a teacher, and alas, isn't always able to take vacation when we have vacation).   The first thing I said was "Well, I'm going to do yoga every day...I've planned out all the classes..." and he interjected "Yeah, that went over really well with the boys on the last break".  I explained that it was my break, too, and wanted to enjoy it myself.  I shuttle those kids all over town and back every week for playdates, activites, and programs, so it won't kill them to indulge my inner yogi for a few days...

In fact, walking out of one of these activities this week, I struck up a conversation with a fellow "child shuttler", who inquired about how my yoga was coming along.  This friend, let's call him "Tonycal", also enjoys a yoga practice or two, and in fact, used to practice in one of the classes I used to take.  He let on that he ended up disappointed with the instructor who professed the great benefits of yoga, and led us through challenging classes week after week.  This instructor really pushed us, put us through the ringer, all the while spouting off from what Tonycal thought was a "holier than thou", "do what I say" pedastal...only to be overheard confessing to another student in the class that "a Valium or two" was a regular part of the nightly routine.  Tonycal was calling bullsh!t, which he was entirely entitled to do.

Tonycal has since moved on to spending a lot of his fitness time with more cardio-vascular pursuits, and I don't know how much of that has to do with his letdown, or just a preference for something different.  Still, his comments gave me pause to think; first, was this instructor truly a hypocrite?; second, can I blog about this?  Well, I'm not sure...and yes!

In his "Yoga Sutras", Patanjali describes the 8 limbs of yoga, but in these descriptions, he gives us 2 main messages.  The first is that practicing these 8 limbs, asanas included, leads us to find "samadhi".  It's what he describes as the deepest of human experiences: a balanced mind-state; awareness of the eternal.  The second message is that we can seek out sources of negativity and find ways to live with them.  With these thoughts, Patanjali (like yoga instructors who try to interpret his message) can come across a bit preachy.  This can be a turn off for people who aren't exactly turning to yoga for it's spiritual side.  Who exactly does Patanjali think he is?  The wise old man on the mountain top who knows the meaning of life?  Patanjali was far too humble for that.  In the Sutras, he's merely encouraging us to reach our full human potential (spiritual and physical).  His intention is that if we can reach this TRUE potential, we'll truly be free - we'll have the freedom to "live with ourselves", warts and all.  Is it such a big deal if it takes a Valium now and again to get there?

I can't say that I get myself on the mat with the goal of experiencing Samadhi, but I can say that I appreciate that is an option available for people who are looking for it.  At this point in my practice (I've been on the mat on and off for about 6 years now, regularly for the last 3), I'm satisfied with that hour of peace to myself; the physical benefits are a huge bonus.  I love that one of the basic ideas behind a practice is that the focus is on your own mat - realize that you are there for yourself and no one else - so you don't have to worry about keeping up, fitting in, or exceeding the limits.  Stretching it out, breathing deep, and having fun certainly gives me the freedom to live with whatever else I'm up to for the other 23 hours in a day, glass (or two) of wine included!  This helps me to gladly get back on the mat time and time again.  Everyone has their own reasons and motivation for getting on the mat, and hopefully Tonycal will look past the "hypocrisy" and find himself there again soon.  In the process, he may find his own version of Samadhi.  Is "Samadhi" open to interpretation?  I think so, but that's likely a topic for another blog post!

A blissful state - when your mind is clear, pure and untainted by judgements, you see things as they really are - you have reached Samadhi, and equal and balanced way of thinking.

Bikram - parts 2 and 3...

Happy 2011, friends!

It was very revealing to me as I read Facebook updates over the course of the last week to see SO many friends lamenting that 2010 was less than great for them. Maybe I've been burying my head in the sand, but I honestly didn't think 2010 was all that bad. It wasn't fantastic, but I can't say that I was sooooooooooo ready for it to be over, like many people apparently were. Nonetheless, time passes, and at the stroke of midnight last night, we embarked on a new decade. Let's see what this chance to begin again will bring...

I didn't make any resolutions. I don't usually make them, but I at least *think* about them - even though they inevitable turn out to be empty promises. This year I didn't even pretend. Sure, I'd like to maintain my health, approach my life with gratitude, be more compassionate towards others with whom I share this planet, and try to view the world with more understanding, but none of these things need to be "resolved" at the drop of a Swarovski-encrusted ball. I've felt the need to do these things since I've been spending time on a mat every now and then. I've NOT felt the need to do these things through my Bikram practice, however, and I've finally decided that's what bugs me about Bikram (ha ha! I bet you were wondering when I'd get around to the subject that the title of my post alludes to!!!). Here's my statement about it: Bikram is for people who don't like yoga.

Since my "Bikram-Part 1" post, I've visited the 100 degree studio twice more, and boy, did I get put through my paces. I sweat my butt off, was most definitely challenged by a hard workout (each time I get the "I just got my ass handed to me" feeling), but definitely didn't get the right kind of post-yoga glow that I yearn for. I got a glow, alright - my face was beat red - but I haven't yet left the Bikram studio with a kinder feeling towards man-kind. I've never left with a generosity of spirit. There is literally no time for a meditative experience - hell, you're not even allowed to close your eyes as you breathe deeply.

I've experienced 3 different teachers, and while they put their subtle stamps on the practice, because it is a sequence of 26 poses for a specific amount of time, and the instructor talks for the entire 90 minutes, there really isn't any leeway. No customization. No moments where they inspire you to feel gratitude for what your body is able to accomplish. No chances for you to appreciate your own spirit and honor the practice. You are in a room with other people, and the instructor reminds you that you are all practicing as one. You can't be the weak link in the chain, otherwise you will be letting everyone else down. You have to push, push, push and make it through. Hold the pose for 60 seconds. Don't close your eyes. Don't leave the room. You start as one, you must finish as one. I guess if that sort of "drill sargeant" mentality is your thing, you might appreciate this sort of workout, but that's not why I love or practice yoga.

Yes, you sweat, but as I mentioned before, you aren't sweating because it was super-yoga - the 26 postures, honestly, aren't that challenging as far as yoga postures go. You are sweating buckets because the room is heated to 100 degrees. You feel sore and tired the next day because you exercised in a 100 degree room. If you think about it, you could sweep the floor in a 100 degree room, sweat your ass off and feel sore and tired the next day. In between my 2nd and 3rd tries, I took a regular 60 minute class with Josh, and it had to be the best thing I did all week ♥ I left feeling happy, I left feeling proud of my body, I left feeling grateful for having the time and good fortune to practice with Josh...and you know what, I even left feeling a little sweaty ;)

So, the second time I did Bikram, I was a trooper and got up to make it to the 6:30 am class - I figured if I just got up and got the workout out of the way, I'd have the whole day to do other things. I was one of 4 students. The other 3 students, were obviously regulars, as the instructor knew them by name and had a familiar banter with them, and I really felt like I was holding them back because I was "new". There was intense pressure to "keep up". Disclosure: the pressure was TOTALLY self-imposed. The instructor kept speaking to me and individualizing the instruction, which is what a good instructor is supposed to do, but as a long-time yogi, I didn't need explanation as to what Triangle pose or head-of-the-knee pose are. I just needed a little patience because I was getting used to these poses in the heat. But there just seems like there is no time for patience due to the nature of the 26 posture sequence. I made it through, attempted every single posture, and left with a sense of amazement that the other three people there apparently do this on a regular basis.

The third time, I once again found myself in a class of 30+ people (apparently, the classes this week were fuller than normal due to the extra holiday time off people had). I did a morning class...but a more respectable 9:30, and the instructor was by far my favorite of the three. She looked strict, but once the practice was underway, I could tell she had a sense of humor that the other two were lacking. Not that the other two were "mean"; they certainly enjoyed what they were doing and cared about doing the postures correctly. This third instructor, seemed kind. She conveyed an understanding that some postures need to be "worked up to", and she actually found a way to interject a few gems of yogic philosophy here and there. But there is still a rigidity to the sequence that must not be altered. You know, I'd bet she would be a great Hatha teacher. I was able to complete the practice. When I felt dizzy or lightheaded, I didn't push myself this time, and I didn't feel guilty about it either - I didn't seem to be diminishing the experience of the die-hard Bikram devotees in the room.

So, that's about it. Will there be a "part 4"? Well, I'm not writing it off, just like I wouldn't write-off a spin on the elliptical. Bikram is still a good workout, and if I am looking to take a yoga class, and this is the most convenient one, I'll do it. 90 minutes is a lot of time to spend on myself, though, so I can't envision these classes being "the most convenient" very often. But, "never say never"...

May the light that shines in every dimension of life inspire and guide our inner vision throughout the year ahead - paraphrased from the Gayatri mantra

POW - Pose of the Week

Hello Dear Readers! I hope you're not terribly disappointed, but I don't have a Pose of the Week for you this week.

You see, I've been feeling quite rushed the last two weeks, and worse, I haven't had time to "surf the net", let along BLOG, while at home! I've had to, quelle horreur, do my blogging from work...something which I'm sure the administration would frown upon. For the record, I blog during my lunch hour (or should I say 40 minutes), and as far as I'm concerned, that is *my* time, and I should be able to spend it how I wish. Most days, it's entertaining students who elect to come to my classroom rather than the lunchroom (who can blame them?!?), but on Tuesdays, I've been taking a few minutes to write my blog. What's resulted is rather uninspiring posts...posts that are done just to say that I made a post this week and I'm therefore "maintaining" my blog. It's so much better when I put more thought into things.

So this week, I'm bucking the trend and not blogging a Pose of the Week. I'll make some time to do proper research and have a Pose for you next week...so don't despair...please stop back. This week, I thought I'd do a bit of musing instead.

I purchased a new brand of tea about a week ago; "Yogi Tea" was jumping right out at me from the Fairway shelf. I don't mind trying a new flavor now and again (although a hard favorite is Twinings French Vanilla Chai, I must admit!), but this tea comes with an added little bonus: The teabag tags have little quote of "wisdom". So far, 90% of them don't make sense (Don't seek out disappointment, but don't be a source of disappointment" - Huh?!?), but every 10th cup of tea or so, I get a nice little gem.

Last week, I had one that read, "For every change, there is chance for a new positive". At first, I thought "meh". Then, I set aside some time in my schedule last Sunday to take Heidi's yoga class at the gym....only to find that Heidi is no longer teaching that class! No explanation, no sign on the door, no reason really. Just a new girl is there saying she doesn't know what is going to happen to the class. Now, Heidi has been my go-to girl since Diann stopped working at my gym, so this revelation has the potential to be traumatizing for me. But I paused, remembered my teabag tag, and took a deep breath. I could do this. I could give the new girl a chance; for every change there is a chance for a new positive. Too bad one of the other people in the class didn't think so - she just got up about 15 minutes into the practice, noisily gathered her mat, flopped her shoes on and briskly walked out. It was so rude, but fascinating at the same time. The teacher wasn't awful - she actually had quite a soothing voice and gentle, nurturing insistence that we might not be able to get into a pose today, but we'll build on it and get there maybe next week or next month. Anyway, this woman stormed out, and I couldn't imagine what was so offensive about this teacher other than the fact that she wasn't Heidi. That student needed some Yogi Tea, for sure!

This morning's teabag tag, by the way, said "Your life is based on the capacity of energy in you, not outside of you". I haven't decided yet if this tag falls in the 10% category of "useful thoughts", but I'll get back to you on that.

Soundtrack

I feel like such a lucky girl this week! I was able to take 2 yoga classes this week! Josh on Thursday, and Diann this morning. I always feel so happy after a yoga class, and this week, especially, I feel so grateful when I'm able to practice with some old favorites!

I still maintain a practice is so much more fulfilling for me when I'm able to breathe deeply, separate myself from the outside world, get in a class, and just focus on the instructions given by the class leader. One of the things that really helps me lose myself in a practice is the music... I'm listening, but not really listening. Unless, of course, the pose is difficult and just focusing on my breathing isn't enough to help me "let go". I can listen to the music and it helps to keep my mind from thinking I can't hold a posture for one.second.longer.

Every instructor has their own preferences; some go for the obvious, sitar-laden "yoga class" jam band tunes ala Krishna Das, others are a little more avante garde and choose Yogi MC. I've heard Josh use some Supreme Beings of Leisure, Diann has been known to mix it up with some Madonna or LedZeppelin now and then, and Heidi even went with John Mayer last Sunday!

Music is a fairly big part of my life - Hubbs is really into tunes, and keeps me current by loading my iPod with new music, and is very good about getting me CDs when my favorite artists have a new release. In fact, I take him for granted about this and don't thank him nearly enough for hooking me up with good music. If not for him, my only exposure to fresh music would be my Pandora app!

Anyway, when I hear new music I tend to categorize it according to its purpose: Would this tune be good for working out? Would this tune be good for driving? Sometimes it's surprising to hear a song that I envisioned as music for one purpose being used for something else, such as background music in a commercial (I'm talking about you, Train: "Hey, Soul Sister" - which is currently hawking everything). Back before we had kids, we would make the odd mix-tape here and there (now I suppose we'd be relegated to "Playlists"), so I've never really lost the habit of picking out good tunes for a mix. I often find myself hearing a song and thinking "This tune would be awesome/interesting/a fun twist/relaxing in yoga class!"

So what songs would I put on my ultimate yoga practice Soundtrack? Well, that's quite a question to answer! Frankly, it's reason #562 "why I could never be a yoga instructor": I don't know what I'd put on my class soundtrack! I think the class would have to be hours and hours long just to accommodate all the music that I think would be "great" in a yoga class. Some of the music I hear would be a pleasant "surprise" to hear in a yoga class (Hello Macy Gray: "Beauty in the World"...and I'll admit I quite liked the John Mayer last week. It wasn't terrible...). Some music is classic, while other music isn't so traditional, but as you hear it, you think, "I could get into this..." (Hubbs recently introduced me to Bittersweet, and I would be up for that in a yoga class).

Interestingly enough, today the sound system wasn't working, so my yoga soundtrack was nothing but Diann's voice...and that worked out just fine, too.

What music is on your Yoga Playlist?

Surf Yoga Soul - DVD review

♥ Well, dear readers, my shipment of yoga DVDs came this afternoon, and without delay, I ripped right into them and hopped on the mat for a test drive. This DVD, Surf Yoga Soul is subtitled "the ultimate flow yoga practice", and it's lead by Shiva Rea, yogini extraordinaire. {It seems to be produced for (or even by) Acacia, unlike all of my other yoga DVDs, which are from Gaiam.}

I purchased this DVD to support my hubby's dream of me doing yoga on his SUP. After trying this practice, I can say with all honesty that I am not hopping on that Paddleboard any time soon. My first impression is that this DVD is awesome, and it is definitely NOT for beginners. My previous experience with Shiva Rea's offerings on DVD was her Pregnancy Yoga DVD by Gaiam. That practice wasn't the best, but the offerings for Pregnancy Yoga are slim pickings, so I found myself practicing with Shiva a few times a month throughout each of my pregnancies. Surf Yoga Soul, on the other hand, has gorgeous scenery, a hip soundtrack, and a very cool "matrix" format, which means I can customize my workout! It has 7 different segments of varying length, and the viewer is able to pick and choose the segments, organizing them however suits, and voila! the practice is set.

To start, I chose a 17 minute segment that worked the arms/shoulders, an 11 minute segment to stretch, and finished with a 2 minutes Savasana. The first segment was so challenging, the second segment stretched it out, and the third segment finished beautifully. I was so pleased with the flow I put together for myself, that I went back and tried the 20 minute "balancing" segment. I can tell I am going to get a lot out of experimenting with the different segments in different orders, which is so motivating!

Bottom line: This DVD is going to be a staple in my rotation! Highly recommended for people with a firm knowledge of and experience in advanced level poses (crow, Warrior 3, Pigeon, and King Dancer, to name a few).

More to come... ♥

Namaste.

Why do you do Yoga?

Queridos cincos pesos, we first met, reluctantly, in Mexico. Since then, you've grown on me. Now it's time for us to say "Adios". I'm headed back to work in a week and I have some pencil skirts I'd like to squeeze into (and not look like Joan from MadMen!)...

Weight loss? Toning? Improve flexibility? Calm? 5 dang minutes to yourself? An instructor (Diann) once asked rhetorically during class, "Why do we do yoga?" Cheekily, I replied, "So we can shave in the shower..." But really, why do YOU do yoga?

When you enter a yoga class for the first time, you go with some sort of purpose: Hey, you're going to check out this "Om" stuff; a physician recommended it as part of your physical therapy; your friend who does yoga looks amazing; you've been spying on the class through the window while you run on the treadmill, and everyone looks happier leaving an hour of yoga than you do leaving a 40 minute run...

The reasons are countless, and it doesn't matter why you "try" it the first time. What matters is your reason for coming back. What keeps you returning to the mat, again, and again, and for me this summer, again? (obviously, since those 5 pounds from my vacation are still hanging around, I'm not doing it for weight loss benefits! And since I still don't look like Gwyneth Paltrow, I'm not doing it for toning, either! Then again, I do have a healthy appetite which she doesn't seem to have...)

I attended a class last Tuesday morning - it was an 8:30 class, and while countless people wake far earlier than 8:30 to begin a practice, my joints weren't quite lubricated enough yet, and I was hoping for a little gentle flexing and stretching, building up to some movement, but nothing as intense as one of Diann's or Josh's classes. The instructor, whom I remember from last year, opened the practice with an almost diatribe on how she expected people to participate in her class. "Sitting one out" if you didn't like the pose wasn't going to cut it in her practice that morning. She expected everyone to try and take it as far as he/she could because that's the intent and spirit of yoga (she's right, but was this the time?) It was borderline lecture on yogic theory, and while she may have been trying to educate us on a subject she obviously loves and knows a great deal about, 8:30 in the morning at a gym is not the time or the place. This went on for the first 10 minutes of the class, and she ended by impressing upon us on the need to clean up after ourselves, should we have to leave class early to head out to work or pick up children from childcare. Really? We only get 1 hour, and you've spent the first 10 minutes lecturing us, so I don't think we'll be ducking out early. Then, almost as if to make up for lost time, she launched into a rapid fire practice that didn't have many poses, but some were quite challenging for the beginners who she felt were present in enough numbers that needed "enlightening" at the beginning of class.

My point in telling this story, other than to get a minor gripe off my chest, is that I have been practicing yoga for a long time, and this instructor is hardly going to scare me off with her style. Someone walking in off his/her treadmill, however, might not have the patience for the "mumbo jumbo". I will be back, again, and again, and again (in fact, I'll be on my mat later this morning...), because I have my own purpose in doing yoga. The truth is, it is therapeutic to me (my mind, my joints, my spirit), I am proud of and love the growth in my practice I have accomplished this summer, and now that I'm headed back to teaching in just a week, I have no idea how I'm going to keep attending classes so ardently!

Yes, in the back of my mind, I'm constantly reminding myself that with patience, I'll get that long, lean yoga body - but the fact that it has yet to materialize is proof that I'm on my bright yellow mat for a different reason entirely. Is it those fleeting moments to myself? Is it the chance for the world to stop and move more slowly by? Is it a chance for me to feel the edges of my skin? It doesn't matter, because it's all of these and more. With every new practice, another reason arises, and that's why I'll be back...

Namaste.

Tried and true vs. Mixing it up!

Well, it's Wednesday, and I was able to participate in quite a challenging class today! The instructor really mixed things up and had us all over the mat. We did traditional poses (down dog, plank, warrior, crocodile, chair - ugh, triangle, pyramid, etc), but not in the "traditional" order.

For example, we were in Mountain pose, and stepped far back into a high Warrior 1. Later on, we got into plank, lowered into crocodile, then pushed up again into plank before down dog - mixed up, for sure! The focus was definitely on balance, though, and the biggest "doozy" of all was lifting from Warrior 1 into a standing side twist on one (!) leg. I was proud of myself for mostly following along and doing my best.

This was quite a difference from Monday's class, which presented challenges of it's own. But the challenges on Monday were the same ones they were last Monday, and the Monday before that, because the instructor seems to follow a tried and true sequence that works for her. It's almost formulaic. We do a few sun salutations, some Warriors (1 and 2), Triangle, some half-moons, some Warrior 3, Tree, Camel, Gate, and Boat. If she's feeling sassy, she'll throw in a Bridge, Pigeon, or Crow, but that's pretty much the extent of the variation.

Now, each style of instruction has its benefits. I like the Monday class, because I know which poses are going to make an appearance, and sometimes I know the order they're coming. Sounds a bit boring, but it's better than a tape because she does get us into some challenging poses - poses I haven't quite nailed yet. Knowing that these poses are coming up in the practice gives me security in that I'll definitely get another chance to work on them, deepening my practice! To her credit, the instructor *does* vary the way she gets us into poses. Sometimes she brings us in from the bottom and others we come down from the top, and that variation is helpful. Maybe we have trouble in the pose from one direction, but we get a second chance in the other direction.

Wednesday's class is a Vinyasa class, and I love the way the instructor builds us up to the flow he's decided on for the day. I usually know the poses...but I rarely know the order he's going to use. "Mixing it up" has a lot of benefits for deepening my practice in another way. When I don't know what's coming, I am forced to listen intently; my focus is there, in the moment. I don't have time to worry about who is wobbling around, I don't have time to check the clock, there's really no time to think about anything else but the practice. I'm truly "in the zone".

So, let's weigh in on which style of instruction you prefer, and why!

No matter why you practice, practice to purify (purify the body through asana, purify the mind through focus and intention, purify the soul through meditation) - paraphrased from Patanjali

ps - I've done it! I've done at least 45 minutes of practice everyday for 7 days. This garners another post in the coming days...

Home Practice from tape

I'm sure I've mentioned before that I'm not a big fan of home practice, but I know that's it's not something I should shy away from nor should I discourage. While I maintain that a practice with an instructor is my mode of choice, these classes are not always held at practical times or at practical places, so sometimes you just have to go with a home practice!

Home practice presents it challenges for me: it's very easy to put off until later (and then never get around to it!), sometimes there are young children about who like to play jungle gym with my limbs while practicing asana, sometimes I do a DVD so often that I memorize what's coming next and end up not holding the pose long enough, and there's always the dilemma of never knowing if I'm properly positioned in the pose. It is oh so helpful to have an instructor there to encourage you to put your muscles and limbs into proper placement.

Anyway, there wasn't a yoga class offered at an amenable time for me today, so I had to go with a quick home practice. The kids spent the morning at day camp, so I eliminated my biggest issue (the "mommy as jungle gym" issue), and I picked a tape that I hadn't done in quite some time. Yes, readers, not a DVD, but a TAPE. VHS. I'm actually surprised that it worked.

My practice of choice today was "Upper Body Yoga for Beginners" with Rodney Yee. This was actually the first yoga DVD I ever purchased, and I remember how it kicked my butt way back when. I figured, as I popped it into the VCR, that it would be interesting to see what was so intimidating about the practice now that I have a few years of experience under my belt. And you know what? It STILL kicked my butt!

It is laughable that ole' Rodney thinks that a beginner can handle being in Chaturanga (which he calls push-up pose) for 30+ seconds. I was dying, and I'll admit here and now that I couldn't do it. He also gives the instruction to move into Upward Facing Dog, and has you hold THAT for 30+ seconds. After that, we were in Down Dog for a while, and even that is a challenge. Later on, he moves the viewer into the Wheel, which I also consider to be an advanced pose. Maybe I'm a wimp, maybe I'm a push over. Maybe I'm not as good as I think I am given 3 years of practicing, but this tape still gave a challenging workout! And yes, it totally worked my Upper Body - all in less than 30 minutes! I can envision myself giving this one a go again soon.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to do a home practice today, and despite all my grumblings about it, and obstacles to overcome, I feel like I accomplished something.

I have a good shot at my week of yoga! I had a nice, gentle Thursday class yesterday, and if I fit in another home practice on Tuesday, there are enough classes that I just might be able to pull it off. Stay tuned as I post my progress...

Savasanaaaaaah!

Well, readers, Josh made us work for it today. By the end of class, I felt like we earned and deserved that Savasana (final resting pose, aka "Corpse pose" - nice name for a pose, isn't it? Lying dead on the floor...). You always appreciate Savasana at the end of practice, but sometimes it's just so much more "aaaaaahhhh...." than others. Today's practice was one of those times!

For starters, Josh put us through such an intense vinyasa today that I really worked up a true sweat. I mean, there were drips down the spine, people. Yeah, I know, TMI, and I shouldn't be surprised because it is a summer practice and it gets hot and all, but I sweat a little more than usual (by the way, just to clarify, that is NOT me in the picture today. I could see how you might be confused because I'm buff and all, but no. Not me). The real kicker, though, is that we had to do no fewer than 10 chair poses. Do you see the irony in this? Can you see how I would be more than a little annoyed by such a practice and therefore feel I earned my Savasana at the end?!?

I do have to say that my 10 rounds with Utkatasana didn't make me grimace too much today. On the other hand, in fact, I actually wanted to laugh out loud with a crazy mental image. Now, my blog isn't well advertised, and even when I do a Google search, it doesn't appear, and I've never mentioned my blog to any of my instructors (except one), so I doubt Josh is reading here. But after the 3rd Utkatasana or so, my mind began to wander, and I thought, "Is he doing this to spite me?"

I rationalized: How could he possibly know my feelings about this pose? Of course, during my mind wanderings, a hilarious visual popped to the front of my mind: Josh sitting at home, checking out my blog, reading my Pose of the Week, saying in his best Dr. Doofenshmirtz impression: "Soooooo... The girl with the yellow mat doesn't like Chair Pose... We'll just see about that....I'll show her a chair pose (or 10!)"

So yes, this mental image made my time in Utkatasana a little more humorous than usual. And then Josh redeemed himself by finishing the practice with one of my favorite poses of all time: Pigeon. After today's intense Vinyasa, Chair pose included, Pigeon was a nice way to find myself at the end of the practice.

Finally, Savasanaaaaah. After all that, you can't really hold it against him, can you? Plus, at the end of the day, I am really not supposed to be disliking any poses, but rather working through my difficulties with them. Don't worry, even after so many of them in my practice today, I still have a waaaaays to go.

Get your Savasanas where you can!

POW! (Pose of the Week)

This week's pose: Chaturanga Dandasana - because sometimes a girl wants to rock a strapless dress!

"Crocodile" pose, despite its simplicity, is a hard pose to master. It has a number of physical benefits, like improving circulation and digestion and building core strength, but the #1 reason for a girl to perfect this pose is the opportunity to get amazing shoulders for your strapless summer dresses!

The most common way an instructor will get you into Chaturanga is to lower yourself down from a plank (top of a push-up) pose. But you could raise yourself from the floor - I've had an instructor or two try this. I've also had an instructor encourage us to "scoop forward" from Down Dog to get there.

No matter how you get there, if you look at the photo of the model I've included this week (from Yoga Journal's website, btw - does this count as giving credit?), there are a lot of subtleties in this pose. You'll notice that her fingers are grounded and the digits face forward - to quote one of my fave's Diann: "...like the number 11". Her upper arm bones are at right angles to her lower arm bones, which are at right angles to the hands. The thighs are NOT resting on the ground, but hovering, directly in line with the rest of the torso. Finally, the foot bones are at right angles to the lower leg bones.

If you for some reason fail to keep these perpendicularities with the joints, you run the risk of aggravating Carpal and/or Tarsal tunnel syndromes or placing stress and strain on the shoulder. These mis-alignments, at worst, can cause injury to the joints in question, and at best, prevent you from developing the results you're looking for (awesome shoulders for that strapless dress!)

Just because this pose has it's difficulties doesn't mean that you shouldn't devote time and attention to mastering it. Time and attention are just what it will take to get it right! Spend the time, reap the rewards!

Namaste!

Well, that didn't work out...

My plan of "doing yoga everyday" didn't quite work out this week. I do realize that today isn't over yet, and I *could* do a home practice and all, but I really don't envision this happening. We are coming off of an epic heatwave (albeit briefly, because we're headed right back into the 90s before weekend's close), and I just feel so drained. Home practice, for me, seems to require SO much more energy than being a participant in an instructor's class. I'll muse on this in a later post, because it's something I don't get.

So, why was my plan a "Fail"? Truthfully, it was due to a variety of factors, and one of the main factors is the aforementioned heat wave. I LOVE yoga. I love practicing, I love the calm, I love what "yoga" stands for, I love the challenge it offers my body, I love the possibility it opens for me (in posture and in philosophy). But when a practice is in the afternoon, and I'll have to rouse a 3 year old from his nap in order to drag him along with his brother to the gym's childcare room, and we're faced with 90 degree weather, you have to admit that the prospect of getting to that practice is a bit daunting.

I tried psyching myself up for the class, saying "You'll feel sooooo much better once you're there in the middle of practice". But the class was with Josh, and his Wednesday class was pretty challenging: full of Chaturangas and Planks and "hops to the top" of the mat, so I knew what was in store for me in this afternoon practice. I know each class is different, but I just couldn't forget the hard work I did on Wednesday, and I wasn't quite sure I was up for it on Thursday, especially with all of the obstacles I'd have to conquer just to get there. Waking my 3 year old from his nap is never the easiest of tasks. Besides, I never know which 3 year old I'll be getting after the nap: the well-rested, chipper little fellow, full of willing conversation...or the hot, punky, sweaty guy who wants to be held for 20 minutes afternap...or the tyrant who screams at everyone and everything for the next hour. I only had a 30% chance of getting a cooperative result, and I wasn't taking those odds.

I let him sleep. I had a cup of chai. I read a few pages of my summer novel (it has nothing to do with yoga and everything to do with Sweden and dragon tattoos). I ate way too many tortilla chips. And now, I'm trying to not feel guilty about skipping practice today. Maybe I'll hit a home practice tomorrow morning, before my boys (all 3 of 'em) wake up to start their day. Maybe I won't. But I will make sure I try not to beat myself up over missing a practice. There's always another opportunity awaiting me around the bend. And I can always aim for my "week of yoga" next week!

Don't let the FAILs in life get you down. Yoga allows us to look forward to the next possibility.

POW! (pose of the week)

This week's pose: Adho Mukha Svanasana - because the dog days of summer are here!

Down Dog pose is easily one of the most recognizable poses, and you'll likely do several throughout any practice, no matter who the instructor. First of all, it is very easy to maneuver into a variety of poses from Down Dog. It strengthens your arms, legs, and torso, stretches hamstrings, back, calves, and feet, and ironically improves digestion! I say ironically, because your torso is inverted, and logic would tell you the food moves down your tract, not up. Anyway, it's a pose full of benefits, and that must be why all instructors love it!

So, with a 99 degree day with a fair amount of humidity and no rain in sight, I don't see myself working up a sweat on the mat today. In fact, my practice today was isolated to a quiet 25 minute home practice on a mat at the foot of the bed in my air-conditioned bedroom this morning. I did a more lengthy Monday practice at the gym yesterday, and I have plans to do a session with one of my "faves" Josh tomorrow. If I'm lucky, and all goes as planned, I'll hit Josh again on Thursday afternoon!

I love summertime when I have more time to practice and really set goals for myself. This week, I would love to do some yoga everyday. For more accomplished yogis and most instructors, this is not such a big deal: daily practice is a necessity. But as a working mom with 2 small boys who LUUURVE to treat my home practice as a private jungle gym session (hey, let's climb on mommy's back while she's in downward facing dog! Let's get a horsey ride while she's trying to do cat/cow! Wait, she's doing the wheel...let's hang from her waist! Triangle? Let's see if we can knock her over...), practicing every day is a real luxury.

So, fingers crossed that my week of yoga works out. I have intention...now let's hope that the Dog Days of Summer let me enjoy some Down Dog a few dozen times this week!

Set goals of your own today. With intention, you can attain them!

POW! (Pose of the Week)

Pose of the Week: Ardha Chandrasana - because it's fate.

Half Moon pose does a whole heck of a lot! It improves circulation, improves balance and coordination, opens the chest and hips, while stretching the hamstrings and strengthening ankles, knees, and thighs.

What does this have to do with "Fate", you may ask? Well, I *was* going to do something clever this week having to do with the "dog days of summer" (I guess that will have to be put aside until next week....), but I went to yoga class on Sunday - always a special treat to practice with Heidi! - and she got us into Half Moon pose about 3 times on each side. And each time she got us there a different way. And the final time, she transitioned us into King Dancer Pose, a pose which I feel is chock FULL of grace, and I'm rather pleased with my personal growth in this pose.

So, while I was really, really resenting Ardha Chandrasana the first two rounds in class (I just wasn't balancing quite as well as I usually do because I was visiting the pose from a different approach than I normally do), the last round sort of redeemed itself. But I still wasn't loving it. I mean, I LOVED the practice. I am always, always challenged by something or other in Heidi's class...and she knows when she has me, because she'll say "Ah-HA!". She's totally not talking to me personally...but she knows that I have some experience and she seems to enjoy when I'm enjoying a challenge in a practice. I know it's not a personal practice just for me (the class is always packed with 20+ people), but it feels like it, and that's fun.

Now, back to why this is "fate". I didn't get to practice on Monday, despite the fact that there was a class, and I vowed not to miss any classes all summer long, but it was the first day of camp for my kids and I didn't want them to be late, so I didn't make it to the class, and instead I did the elliptical. But I DID read Yoga Journal while I was on the elliptical! And lo-and-behold, what do they feature, not once, but twice in this month's issue? Ardha Chandrasana! There it was, demonstrating that it keeps your knees in tip-top shape (page 26). And there it was again on page 81, showing how it's great for "Partner Yoga" (and btw, despite this article, I'm still not a fan of partner yoga).

Half Moon Pose really doesn't look like anything special. You're still "standing" on two limbs. They just aren't the two you're used to standing on. One foot is grounded, and the same-side hand is placed in front of the foot so that the opposite foot can soar out parallel to the ground and the opposite hand can stand tall. It's kind of like a broken H or a weird K. On the other hand, when you get yourself into Half Moon Pose, no matter how you got there, and you feel yourself balancing against "tradition", it really feels like an accomplishment and you can reap all the benefits it offers!

I'm really looking forward to practice tomorrow morning (with Josh!), and darn it, those kids will be a little late to camp. For now, I'll leave you with a thought offered up by Heidi somewhere about 3/4ths of the way through practice:

there's no wrong way to do yoga, unless you do it without intention or purpose.

POW! (pose of the week)

Pose of the Week: Vrksasana - because sometimes you need to feel like you can do something impressive!



Tree pose is actually the counterpose to last week's POW, Standing forward bend! It allows your spine to lengthen, obviously improves your balance, but also improves circulation while opening your shoulders, chest, thighs, and hips. Sounds like a recipe for feeling good! I also learned something new: Vrksasana actually remedies flat feet! This is because it helps to strengthen the arches, ankles, calves and thighs. Hey, maybe this is a magic "do it all" kind of pose. Then again, as I learn more and more about the deeper purposes of my poses, so many of them are magic "do it all" kind of poses.



Anyway, I really like tree pose for lots of reasons. It is one of those poses where you first feel kind of bad-ass...like you really know what you're doing with all this yoga stuff. There you are, one leg folded way up on your thigh, while balancing on the other leg. Pretty powerful. Pretty impressive! And your hands are doing whatever they want. It's totally flexible, in both senses of the word.



First of all, you have to be pretty flexible to get your leg hitched up that far, but this pose is also flexible in that there are no rules as to what you need to do with your hands while you're balancing on that leg. You can hold your hands in prayer position in front of your sternum. You can hold your hands on your hips. You can clasp your hands and point your index finger to the sky. You can hold your arms aloft like the branches of a giant oak tree. This last version is my favorite way to practice tree pose. Maybe it's the teacher in me, but I love the idea of my arms as branches, extending out (you know, all "tree of knowledge" and stuff). I feel so graceful. I love any pose that is full of grace. It's also pretty cool that I can balance like that.



By the way, the flexibility also extends down to those feet, too. If you can't hitch your foot all the way into your inner thigh, you can place it on your lower thigh. You can place it on your calf. You can even place it on your ankle. That Linden tree in my backyard didn't sprout overnight, and neither did my efforts in Tree Pose. It took many, many practices to get where I am....and the instructor of any class I'm in will certainly tell you there's room for improvement in my Tree.



Naturally, that's one of the things I love about yoga: there's always somewhere to go. Feel free to come to my tree for knowledge, enlightenment, or even just a bit of shade!



This week, share some shade!